Study of the problems of ageism and assessment of attitudes towards age in the medical environment

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ageism pervades all areas of life, including the areas of medical and social care. Gerontological ageism has a significant negative impact on indicators of physical, mental health, functional status and well-being of older people. In the conditions of an aging society, the study of the scale and characteristics of this problem in various spheres of life is very relevant. AIM: To assess the prevalence of stereotypes of attitudes towards older age among primary health care physicians, senior students of a medical university and directly elderly people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period from 2018 to 2022, 538 people aged 20 to 75 were interviewed in 3 subgroups: 1) senior students of a medical university of medical specialties, 2) young and middle-aged primary health care doctors, 3) elderly people. RESULTS: It was revealed that the opinions about the problems in this age period in the elderly and the beliefs of doctors and medical students often do not coincide. CONCLUSIONS: When training medical personnel, it is necessary to form the correct attitude to age and skills of communicative competence with different age groups of patients.